Elizabeth A. Vance

Elizabeth first started in politics as a campaign worker for
Elva Wilkinson. She was appointed deputy recorder for Weber
County. She became the first woman from the county elected
to the Utah House of Representatives since 1908, where
she served for fourteen years. She served as the National
Chairman for the Young Democrats and 23 years on the
State Democratic Central Committee. She became known as
“Mrs. Democrat.”

Olene Smith Walker

Olene spent eight years in the Utah State Legislature, including
a term as Majority Whip. While serving as Utah’s first
woman lieutenant governor, for ten years, Walker spearheaded
many important initiatives including education programs,
budget security measures, healthcare reform and workforce
development. She became the first female Governor in the State
of Utah after Mike Leavitt left for the EPA. Walker served as
governor until the end of Leavitt’s term in 2005.

Jean Anne Waterstradt

Jean Anne was a student at Weber College in 1942 where she
became the first female editor of the Signpost. After graduating
in 1943, she attended Brigham Young University earning a
bachelor’s degree in English. She taught writing, literature,
and drama for 44 years at BYU. Upon retiring, she became
an active member of the WSU Emeriti Alumni Council and
was a staunch supporter of the Stewart Library, serving on the
Friends of the Stewart Library Board.

AnnaBelle Weakley

AnnaBelle arrived in Utah in 1942, when her first husband
was stationed at Hill Air Field. She quickly obtained a job
counting nuts and then moved into the typing pool. In 1947,
she married Billy Weakley and took over the Porters and
Waiters Club. She built a lounge in the basement and booked
Jazz acts to play in the desegregated club. In 1969, a fire
destroyed the building and she moved into the psychology
field until her death in 2008.

LaRee Holt Whitney

LaRee was born in 1927, and contracted polio in 1954, which
left her paralyzed from the neck down. After raising four
children, LaRee enrolled at Weber State College at 51. She
completed her bachelor’s degree in English in five years and
graduated as an honor student in 1984, despite being involved
in a car accident that hospitalized her for ten weeks shortly
after starting school. She was awarded a special Crystal Crest
award in 1984.